Apparatus for forming a laminated belt of plural plies of belt material



APPARATUS FOR FORMING A LAMINATED BELT Filed Dec. 18' 1964 OF PLURALPLIES OF BELT MATERIAL 3 sh et eet 1 @N mm) ATTY;

g v. H. HASSELQUlST ,104

APPARATUS FOR FORMING A LAMINATED BELT OF PLURAL PLIES OF BELT MATERIAL3 shee ts sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 I I r I NVE NTOR.

VICTOR H. HASSELQUIST .ATTYI 1968 v. H. HASSELQUIST 3,397,104

APPARATUS FO ORMING A LAMINATED BELT 'QF PL RAL IES OF BELT MATERIAL 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed DC. 18, 1964 INVE NTOR VIcTOR H. HASSELQUIST BYW%.ATTY.

United States Patent "ice 3,397,104 APPARATUS FOR FORMING A LAMINATEDBELT 0F PLURAL PLIES 0F BELT MATERIAL Victor H. Hasselquist, Akron,Ohio, assignor to The B. F.

Goodrich Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec.18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,434 8 Claims. (Cl. 156-351) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An apparatus for making laminated belts wherein a captiveliner shuttles back and forth between spaced storage rolls carrying thebelt under construction therewith wherein the liner delivers the beltunder construction for passage between laminating rolls which laminates:additional ply or plies to the belt under construction. Supply fabricfor the belt under construction is fed continuously towards thelaminating rolls and its direction of feed to the laminating rolls ischanged in accordance to the direction in which the liner moves. Theliner does not pass between the laminating rolls.

This invention relates to conveyor belts and more particularly to theapparatus and method of making a conveyor belt of multiple plyconstruction.

In the construction of long rnulti-ply conveyor belts it has been thegeneral procedure to assemble individual plies manually on an assemblytable wherein the plies being worked with are unwound from individualrolls, assembled by hand on the table and then the assembled plies arewound up in a liner on a take-up roll. The takeup roll is thentransported back to the starting position and the assembled plies areunwound onto the assembly table where an additional ply is assembledthereon. The operation required shifting of the materials which wascumbersome in the case of long conveyor belts. The tension varied whichintroduced misalignment problems, wrinkling and in some cases thestretching of the material. The fabric used in such belts is heavy duckimpregnated with rubber compounds to facilitate the adhesion of theplies. Frequently a very tacky gum is provided on only one surface andit is customary to wind such stock with the gum surface radiallyinwardly. Consequently, this will require special handling, transportingand rewinding of the fabric ply.

The present invention uses an apparatus for building large conveyorbelts which maintains alignment of the multiple plies while providingcontinuous uninterrupted assembling of the belt even though severalplies are required in the belt construction thereby eliminating thetransporting of the partially completed belt back and forth as in theprior constructions. In addition, the present apparatus permits fabricconstruction of a multiple ply belt more accurately and economically.The apparatus is provided with means for shifting the supply roll meanssuch that it is immaterial where the tacky surface is.

The present invention provides a method which simplifies the process ofconstructing a multiple layer belt such that the construction time iscut in half on those belts having several plies. The method comprisessequentially guiding individual plies to a carrier wherein suchindividual plies are laminated to the belt being carried by the carrierand thereafter winding the multiple ply belt onto a separate take-upspool.

Briefly, the apparatus comprises a pair of laminating rolls whose axesare parallel to the axes of a pair of spaced spools which have a lineroperative therebetween. Supply means are provided to supply impregnatedfabric material to the laminating rolls whereby a belt being constructed3,397,104 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 on the liner directs such belt intoabutting relationship with the laminating rolls.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which simplifiesthe construction of a multi-ply layer belt.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which moreefliciently constructs a multi-layer tension free belt that is durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whichconstructs multiple ply belts of consistently high quality moreefficiently.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a process andapparatus for economically producing conveyor belting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved methodof making a rnulti-layer belt.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of manufacturinga long multi-ply layer belt by sequentially adding and laminating thelayers to the belt being built with a minimum of handling.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic longitudinal views with portions brokenaway of the multi-ply belt-making apparatus which when longitudinallyaligned show the entire apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stock guide roll assembly taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1b.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the guide roll and its adjusting means for thecaptive liner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the multi-ply belt-making apparatus withdetails omitted for clarity of parts, with rubberized fabric materialshown as a line joining another ply also shown as a line.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic showing of a rubberized fabricmaterial entering the laminating rolls for delivery to the captiveliner.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic showing of a rubberized fabricmaterial entering between the laminating rolls for lamination to aone-ply layer of rubberized fabric material to form a two-ply belt.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic showing of a rubberized fabricmaterial entering the laminating rolls for lamination to two plies ofrubberized material to form a three-ply belt.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1b a base frame 11 havin at its intermediateportion a pair of spaced vertically extending support frames 12 whichsupport for rotation a pair of laminating rolls 13 and 14. Roll 13 isrotatably mounted on a shaft 15 which is driven by a chain 16 fromsuitable drive means not shown. Laminating roll 14 is suitably mountedon a shaft 17 Which has its respective end portions operatively connected to hydraulic cylinders 18 (only one shown in FIG. lb) wherebypressurization of the head end of hydraulic cylinder 18 operates to movethe roll 14 into contact with the roll 13 whereas pressurization of therod end of hydraulic cylinder 18 operates to move the roll 14 in anupward direction away from roll 13 as viewed in FIG. 1b. The upper endportions of frames 12 support a stock guide roll assembly 19 (FIGS. 1aand 2) having rolls 20 and 22. A guide roll 23 is mounted on supportframe 12 between the stock guide roll assembly 19 and the roll 14 toguide the stock or web of material from the roll 22 to the laminatingroll 14.

The one end of base frame 11 has a pair of vertically extending supportframe members 24 (FIG. lb) on which is mounted a take-up reel 25, whichreel 25 Winds up the laminated conveyor belt at the completion of theoperation. A liner reel 26 is mounted closely adjacent the takeup reeland cooperates with such reel to provide liner material which is woundwith the conveyor belt onto the take-up reel 25 in a manner well knownin the art. Mounted closely adjacent liner reel 26 on base frame 11 is aduster unit 27 which may be used to apply dust to a belt that is drawntherethrough prior to wind-up on take-up reel 25. Such duster unit 27comprises a housing 28 which supports a horizontally disposed guide roll29 and a pair of oppositely disposed brushes 36 which removes the excessdust as such belt is drawn upwardly past such brushes 30. A pair oflaterally spaced supports 31 mounted closely adjacent the outer endportions of duster unit 27 and attached to the base frame 11 support apair of guide rolls 32 and 33. Guide roll 32 directs the completed beltdownwardly into the duster unit 27 for rolling contact with guide roll29, which guide roll 29 directs such completed belt upwardly pastbrushes to guide roll 33. Guide roll 33 then directs the completed beltonto the take-up reel 25. A pair of spaced frame members 34 (FIG. la)and 35 (FIG. lb) are mounted respectively at the other end portion ofbase frame 11 and intermediate the vertical support frame 12 and support31. Frame member 34 supports for rotation a carrier belt spool 36mounted for rotation on a shaft 37 which is suitably driven and adaptedto be braked in a manner well known in the art. Frame member 35 supp rta carrier belt spool 38 that is mounted for rotation on a shaft 39 whichis driven by a chain drive 42 and braked in a manner well known in theart.

Carrier belt spool 36 has wound thereon a captive liner 43 which is alsowound onto carrier belt spool 38. Liner 43 from spool 36 is guided byguide roll 44 towards the laminating rolls 13 and 14. Closely adjacentthe laminating rolls 13 and 14 a guide roll 45 directs such liner 43downwardly around suitable guide rolls 46 and 47 to a guide roll 48which in turn directs the liner 43 upwardly to a guide roll 49 adjacentlaminating rolls 13, 14. Guide roll 49 guides the liner 43 towards apair of guide rolls 51 and 52. Guide roll 52 guides the liner 43 ontospool 38 and during construction of a belt as to be described guides theliner 43 and a multi-ply belt under construction onto spool 38. Guideroll 51 guides the belt after construction upwardl towards a guide roll53, which guide roll 53 directs such belt to the guide roll 32 whereasthe guide roll 52 directs the liner 43 downwardly towards the spool 38,thereby separating the constructed belt from the liner 43. Guide roll 52(FIGS. lb and 3) is adjustable, thereby assuring the proper SpOoling andunwinding of the liner from the spool 38. The one end portion of guideroll 52 is mounted in a stationary pillow block 55 while the other endof guide roll 52 is mounted in an adjustable pillow block 56. A standard57 supports a bracket 58 upon which is mounted a hydraulic cylinder 59.Hydraulic cylinder 59 has its piston rod 61 operatively connected to thepillow block 56, which pillow block 56 is suitably guided onto ways onthe bracket 58. Adjustment of the guide roll 52 by the hydrauliccylinder 59 makes lateral corrections to the web and the fabric materialthat is passing over such guide roll 52 to assure proper winding of theliner 43 onto the spool 38.

Mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the other end of base frame 11 isa fabric supply unit 63. Supply unit 63 comprises a rectangular baseframe 64 supported at one end by rollers 65 which are adapted to ride onsuitable tracks, and pivotally mounted at the other end as at 66 tothereby facilitate the swing of the base frame 64 about pivot means 66.A carriage 67 adjustably mounted on base frame 64 for longitudinalmovement is operatively connected to the piston rod of a hydrauliccylinder 68, which hydraulic cylinder 68 is secured to the base 64. Toaccommodate such longitudinal movement of the carriage 67 relative tothe base frame 64, carriage 67 has rolls 69 secured thereon in rollingcontact with suitable ways on the base frame 64. Carriage 67 supportsfor rotation thereon a fabric sup ly reel 71. Fabric supply reel 71contains the rubberized fabric material wound in a cloth liner such thatas reel 71 is rotated, the rubberized fabric material is separated fromthe liner by a dancer roll unit 72 as such rubberized fabric materialpasses over guide roll 73. In the dancer roll unit 72, one of therollers is movable vertically along guides such that a senser 1Soperable to actuate a motor to drive the dancer unit 72 to maintainsufiicient fabric material from the reel 71. The vertically drivenroller is movable through suitable limits and its operation is wellunderstood by those skilled in the art. The cloth liner travels over theguide roll 73 and passes underneath a guide roll 74 immediately belowthe guide roll 73, thence to a power driven take-up roll 75. Therubberized fabric material passes from the dancer unit 72 onto aconveyor belt unit 76 which has an upwardly extending conveyor run 77followed by a downwardly extending conveying run 78. The rubberizedfabric material passes from the front portion 78 onto a dancer unit 79and thence via a guide roll 81 to the shock guide roll assembly 19 forpassage to the laminating rolls 13 and 14.

Sensing means 82 (FIG. 1a) located above the dancer roll unit 72 andclosely adjacent the forward end portion of the conveying unit 76 sensesthe position of the edge of the moving web of rubberized fabric materialand operates to maintain the position of such moving web byrepositioning the stock roll 71 via the carriage 67. Such sensingdevices are well known in the art and, accordingly, a detaileddescription is not deemed necessary. The sensing means 82 actuates thehydraulic cylinder 68 to move the carriage 67 linearly relative to thebase 64 to maintain alignment of the fabric material as it is conveyedonto conveying unit 76. A sensing means 84 operating on the edge of theweb or liner 43 (senser 84 is located between the laminating rolls andthe hydraulic cylinder 59) maintains alignment of the liner 43 as itmoves onto the SpOOl 38. Reference is made to US. Patent 2,722,415 asone form of web guiding control. The sensing means 84 senses the edge ofthe liner 43 and actuates the hydraulic cylinder 59 (FIG. 3) whereby theguide roll 52 is moved in response thereto to maintain alignment of theedge of the material and the liner 43 as it moves onto the reel 38. Thesensing means 84 may include a bleeder valve in a vacuum system whereinthe edge of the material being guided passes over the center of a smallhole in the face of an orifice when the material is traveling in thenormally desired lateral position. As this material moves from this edgeposition it either moves onto or off of the hole in the orifice whichthereby changes the vacuum in the system and actuates the hydrauliccylinder 59 to shift the guide roll 52 automatically in the properdirection to reposition the fabric material. Sensing means 85 and 86located on the opposite sides of the pass line adjacent la mi natingrolls 13 and 14 operate to control a hydraulic cylinder 87 (FIG. 2)which adjusts guide rolls 20 and 22 to maintain alignment of the movingrubberized fabric material as it prOceeds to the laminating rolls 13 and14. Such action maintains the alignment of the rubberized fabricmaterial as it passes onto the belt under construction on the pass linebetween laminating rolls 13 and 14.

Stock guide roll assembly 19 comprises a fixed support 90 which supportsvia a pair of ways 91 a movable carriage 92. Carriage 92 via pivot means93 and bracket 94 supports at one end of the pair of guide rolls 20 and22. The other ends of guide rolls 20 and 22 are supported by a bracket95 pivotally mounted as at 97 on a carriage 98. Carriage 98 is sli-dableon a pair of ways 99 which are mounted on a support 100. Hydrauliccylinder 87 is mounted on the support 100 and has its piston rod 101operatively connected to the carriage 98 whereby selectivepressurization of the hydraulic cylinder 87 adjusts carriage 98 linearlyon the ways 99.

The various drives for the several reels are not shown since these wouldunnecessarily complicate the drawings and the descriptions and suchdrive means are conventional in the art.

In the operation of the apparatus, it is to be assumed that the liner 43is wound initially on the spool 36 and a rubberized fabric material isto be unwound from the fabric reel 71 as shown in FIG. 1a. The fabricreel 71 is rotated and the rubberized fabric material is unwound forseparation from the liner such that the liner passes over the guide roll74 for winding onto take-up roller 75 while the rubberized fabricmaterial passes through the dancer roll unit 72 onto the conveyor beltunit 76 for passage to stock guide roll assembly 19 which delivers suchrubberized fabric material between the laminating rolls 13, 14 as shownin FIG. 5. Liner 43 which passes from the spool 36 and over guide roll44 is guided via guide rolls 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, respectively, tobypass the laminating rolls 13 and 14 and thence via guide rolls 49 and52 to the pass line of the laminating rolls 13 and 14 whereby therubberized fabric material which passes between laminating rolls 13 and14 is deposited onto such liner such that the fabric material and liner43 are wound onto spool 38. Hydraulic cylinder 18 is pressurized tomaintain pressure on the rubberized fabric material as it passes betweensuch laminating rolls. During such operation, sensing means 84 operateson the hydraulic cylinder 59, while sensing means 85 operates on thestock guide roll assembly 19, while sensing means 82 operates on thehydraulic cylinder 68 to thereby maintain alignment between therubberized fabric material and the liner 43 to assure proper edgealignment. Assuming that the proper length of rubberized fabric materialhas been Wound onto the liner 43, the operation of feeding rubberizedfabric material and liner 43 is stopped. The rubberized fabric materialwhich has not been joined to the liner 43 is cut closely adjacent thelaminating rolls 13 and 14 between rolls 23 and 14. The rubberizedfabric material is now fed from the guide roll 23 downwardly and to theright side of laminating roll 14, and thereafter enters betweenlaminating rolls 13 and 14 in a direction from right to left as viewedin FIG. lb and as shown in FIG. 6.

Reel 71 is again rotated to feed the rubberized fabric material to thelaminating rolls 13 and 14 whereby the rubberized fabric material isdirected in a direction from left to right as viewed in FIG. 1a.Simultaneously with such action reels 36 and 38 are rotated in adirection to feed the liner 43 from right to left as viewed in FIG. lb

and as shown in FIG. 6. The rubberized fabric material which has beendeposited on the liner 43 passes between laminating rolls 13 and 14 suchthat the fabric material delivered by the guide roll 23 is laminatedonto such material passing from the liner 43. Such operation fabricatesa two-ply belt in order to construct a belt of several plies. The aboveoperation is reversed wherein the rubberized fabric material is cutclosely adjacent the laminating rolls 13 and 14 between rolls 23 and 14.The rubberized fabric material is then fed from the guide roll 23downwardly and to the left of laminating roll 14 as viewed in FIGS. 4and 7, and thereafter enters between laminating rolls 13 and 14 in adirection from left to right as seen in FIG. 7. Thus, as two plies arefed from left to right, the third ply is fed from above and is laminatedto the two plies to make a three-ply laminated belt. As depicted in FIG.4, the belt under construction is fed from reel 36 to pass betweenlaminating rolls 13 and 14 while a ply of rubberized fabric material isfed between laminating rolls 13 and 14 from supply reel 71 forlamination thereto after which such laminated belt passes under guideroll 51 for windup onto take-up reel 25. If an additional ply is to bebuilt into the belt, the above operation is continued as an additionalply stock of rubberized fabric material is assembled onto the existingbelt under construction on the liner 43, as such belt under constructionpasses between the laminating rolls 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 7 tothereby construct a three-ply belt. The operations explained above arerepeated until the requisite number of plies are assembled. After thelast ply has been laminated, the completed belt is separated from theliner 43 by passing the constructed belt over guide roll 53 towards theguide roll 52 whereas the liner 43 passes over guide roll 52 and iswound onto the reel 38. The constructed belt then passes through theduster unit 27 and over the guide roll 33 onto take-up reel 25 as shownin FIG. 4.

In those circumstances where a very tacky gum is provided on onesurface, provision is made so that this tacky surface meets the beltbeing constructed so that the tacky surface adheres to the belt. In thissituation, the base frame 64 is pivoted about the pivot means 66 andswung into the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. la such that thetacky surface will be conveyed so that it will meet the belt underconstruction with its tacky surface in abutting contact thereto forlamination by the rolls 13 and 14 onto the belt under construction.Means may be provided to rotate or pivot base frame 64 about the pivotmeans 66.

Although the apparatus described contains only one fabric supply means,other fabric supply means may be provided duplicating the fabric supplyunit 63, the conveyor belt unit 76 and the laminating rolls 13 and 14such that the additional fabric supply unit will supply fabric to anadditional set of laminating rolls, which additional laminating rollswould be located between the laminating rolls 13, 14 and the standard 57(which standard 57 supports the guide roll 52 for the belt underconstruction), thus providing plural laminating means. In thissituation, two plies may be laminated to an existing belt underconstruction simultaneously, thereby reducing the time necessary toconstruct a belt. The operation of this apparatus would be substantiallya duplicate of that described above.

' It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that numerousmodifications or alterations may be made thereon without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for laminating a belt composed of multi-ply layers ofbelt material comprising a base, a pair of adjacent laminating rollshaving parallel axes and a longitudinal pass line therebetween, a pairof spaced spools having axes parallel to said axes of said rolls, aliner mounted on one of said rolls passing through portions of said passline for selective winding and unwind-' ing from the other of saidrolls, means operatively connected to said spools for selectivelyrotating said spool for winding and unwinding said liner between saidspools through said pass line, and belt material supply roll meansmounted on said base for advancingbelt material to said pass line formovement through said pass line and between said rolls for take-up ontosaid liner whereby a belt is adapted to be constructed of multi-pliesfrom said belt supply means.

2. An apparatus for laminating a belt composed of multi-ply layerscomprising, a base, a pair of adjacent laminating rolls having parallelaxes and a longitudinal pass line therebetween, a pair of spaced spoolshaving axes parallel to said axes of said rolls, a liner mounted on oneof said spools passing onto portions of said pass line to either side ofsaid rolls, guide rolls mounted on said base adjacent either side ofsaid laminating rolls thereby diverting said liner from passage betweensaid rolls, means operatively connected to said spools selectivelywinding and unwinding said liner between said spools, belt materialsupply roll means mounted on said base for advancing belt material tosaid pass line for movement through said pass line and between saidrolls, and take-up rolls mounted on said base operative to wind saidlaminated stock from said liner upon completion of a multi-ply belt.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein control means is mountedon said base and is operatively connected to said belt material supplyroll means for maintaining alignment of the material passing from saidsupply roll means with said liner.

4. An apparatus for laminating a belt composed of multi-ply layers ofbelt material comprising a base, a pair of adjacent laminating rollshaving parallel axes and a pass line passing centrally therebetween, apair of spaced spools having axes parallel to said axes of said rolls, aliner mounted on one of said spools passing through said pass line forselectively winding and unwinding from the other of said rolls, saidliner having a longitudinal center line that passes through said passline when being wound from one to the other of said spools, beltmaterial supply roll means mounted on a movable support closely adjacentone end of said base for advancing belt material to said laminatingrolls for passage therebetween onto said pass line and subsequentpassage to said liner, power operated means on said movable supportoperatively connected to said belt material supply roll means for movingsaid supply roll means in a direction parallel to said axes of saidlaminating rolls to maintain material advanced from said roll means in apreset position, said movable support being pivotally mounted adjacentsaid base, and means operatively connected to said movable support forpivoting said movable support between a first and second positionwherein the axes of said supply roll means in said first and secondposition is parallel to said axes of said laminating rolls.

5. A belt laminating apparatus comprising a base, a pair of laminatingrolls mounted on said base having parallel horizontally extending axes,a pair of spaced reels mounted on said base having horizontallyextending axes that are parallel to said axes of said rolls, a linermounted on one of said reels having a portion thereof operativelyconnected to the other of said reels, means operatively connected tosaid reels for selectively winding and unwinding said liner between saidreels, a movable support mounted adjacent said base on a vertical pivotmeans, said movable support swingable in a horizontal plane about saidvertical pivot means, belt material supply roll means mounted on saidmovable support, and conveying means mounted on said base operative toadvance belt material from said supply roll means to said laminatingrolls for passage therebetween onto said liner.

6. A belt laminating apparatus comprising a base, a pair of laminatingrolls mounted on said base having parrallel horizontally extending axes,a pair of of spaced reels mounted on said base having horizontallyextending axes that are parallel to said axes of said rolls, a linermounted on one of said reels having a portion thereof operativelyconnected to the other of said reels, means operatively connected tosaid reels for selectively winding and unwinding said liner between saidreels, a movable support mounted adjacent said base on a vertical pivotmeans, said movable support having spaced ways parallel to said axes ofsaid rolls, a carriage mounted on said ways, power operated meansinterconnecting said carriage and said support for adjusting saidcarriage linearly on said support, belt material supply roll meansmounted on said carriage, sensing means mounted on said base responsiveto material advanced from said belt material supply roll means foractuating said power operated means to maintain alignment of suchadvancing material relative to said laminating rolls, and conveyingmeans mounted on said base operative to advance belt material from saidsupply roll means to said laminating rolls for passage therebetween ontosaid liner.

7. A belt laminating apparatus comprising a base, a pair of spaced reelsmounted on opposite end portions of said base; a pair of laminatingrolls mounted on the intermediate portion of said base, said rollshaving parallel horizontally extending axes and a pass line therebetweenextending toward said reels; a liner spooled on one of said reels andoperatively connected to the other of said reels; liner guide meansincluding guide rolls on either side of said laminating rolls fordiverting said liner from said pass line around said laminating rollsand back onto said pass line, adjustable guide means on said baseadjacent one of said reels for guiding said liner onto said one reel;liner sensing means mounted adjacent said laminating rolls responsive tomisalignment of said liner to adjust said adjustable guide means tomaintain alignment of said liner as wound onto said one reel; meansoperatively connected to said reels for selectively winding andunwinding said liner between said reels; a movable support mounted on avertical pivot means adjacent one end portion of said base whereby saidmovable support is swingable in a horizontal plane about said verticalpivot means; said support having spaced ways parallel to said axes ofsaid laminating rolls; a carriage mounted on said ways for rectilinearmovement relative to said support; power operated means interconnectingsaid carriage and said support for adjusting said carriage linearly onsaid support; belt material supply roll means mounted on said carriage;conveying means mounted on said base operative to advance belt materialfrom said supply roll means toward said laminating rolls; sensing meansmounted on said base operative to sense deviation of the edge ofmaterial advanced by said belt supply roll means toward said conveyingmeans from a preset position to actuate said power operated means toreposition said carriage and said supply roll means whereby the edge ofmaterial advanced by said supply roll means is at said preset position;material guide rolls mounted adjacent said laminating rolls for guidingmaterial from said conveying means to said laminating rolls; meansoperatively connected to said material guide rolls for adjusting saidmaterial guide rolls; and sensing means mounted on said base adjacentsaid laminat'mg rolls for sensing an edge portion of material on saidpass line and passing through said rolls for actuating said lastmentioned means to correct the position of said incoming material fromsaid material guide rolls to be co-extensive with said material passingon said pass line.

8. An apparatus for laminating a belt composed of multi-ply layers ofbelt material comprising, a base, at least two pairs of laminating rollsmounted on said base having parallel axes and a longitudinal pass linetherebetween, a pair of spaced spools on said base having axes parallelto said axes of said laminating rolls, a liner having portions wound onsaid spools, said liner having its end portion secured to said spoolswhereby said liner passes on said pass line for selective winding andunwinding between said spools, guide roll means mounted closely adjacentsaid laminating rolls for diverting said liner away from said laminatingrolls and around said laminating rolls back onto said pass line, and atleast two pairs of belt material supply means mounted adjacent said basefor delivering belt material to said pairs of laminating rollsrespectively for advancing said belt material to said pass line forpassage thereto for laminating to a beltunder construction and passingthrough said laminating rolls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,730,307 10/1929 Stevens156--582 XR 2,735,630 2/1956 Ziebolz 156351 XR 2,941,572 6/1960 Densenet al 156 35l XR 3,053,310 9/1962 Spooner 156543 XR PHILIP DIER, PrimaryExaminer.

